Sunset at Lake McDonald

This view is looking northeast at the Livingston Range from the south shore of Lake McDonald. The u-shaped valley in the McDonald Creek valley across the lake was the result of the scouring action of glaciers during the Pleistocene ice ages. The lake, which is 10 miles (16 Km) long and 472 feet (144 meters) deep, was also carved by these glaciers, later to be filled with its meltwater.

Print No. A01NW-33-6

Stromatolites

Stromatolites are the fossilized remains of Precambrian blue-green algae. These are exposed along the Going-to-the-Sun Road near Logan Pass. Here is a close-up of the convoluted layering of the stromatolites.

Print No. A01NW-33-10

Clements Mountain

Clements Mountain stands above Logan Pass at the top of Going-to-the-Sun Road. Clements Mountain is a glacial horn, the remnant peak following the carving on multiple sides by separate glaciers. In this image, the horizontal Lewis Thrust Fault separates the older Precambrian cliffs from the sun-illuminated younger Cretaceous strata below (see Lewis Thrust Fault below)

Print No. A01NW-34-3

Sunrift Gorge

Sunrift Gorge lies just north of Going-to-the-Sun Road at the west end of Saint Mary Lake. Here, Baring Creek follows a narrow gorge formed by a fracture through the bedrock before taking a right-angle turn and heading for Baring Falls and the lake.

Print No. A01NW-34-7

Saint Mary Lake and Wild Goose Island

This is the western end of Saint Mary Lake with the tiny Wild Goose Island. In the background, from left to right, are Red Eagle, Mahtotopa, Little Chief, and Almost-a-Dog Mountains of the Lewis Range.

Print No. A01NW-34-10

Triple Divide Peak

Triple Divide Peak is the small peak on the left side of the distant ridgeline. It has the distinction of being the only spot on the continent that has sides that drain into the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada. Saint Mary Lake is in the foreground.

Print No. A01NW-34-12

Lewis Thrust Fault

Looking south at Wynn Mountain, the Lewis Thrust Fault is nearly horizontal and separates the steep cliffs of older Precambrian strata above from the rolling hills of younger Cretaceous strata below. The upper plate in this case was thrust over 50 miles (80 Km) to the east (from right to left in this image) over the lower plate. The thrusting began about 170 million years ago as part of the building of the ancestral Rocky Mountains.

Print No. A01NW-35-2

Redrock Falls

Redrock Falls is located along the Swiftcurrent Trail in the Many Glaciers portion of the park. The red rocks here are composed of Precambrian chert.

Print No. A01NW-35-6